How a Speeding Ticket Impacts Insurance in Georgia

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Got a lead foot in Georgia? The financial sting of a speeding ticket extends beyond the upfront costs, which can range from $25 to $500, depending on how fast you were driving. Even one ticket can cost more than you think. In addition to state fines, drivers in Georgia pay an average of $753 more per year for car insurance if convicted of speeding here. Understanding how speeding tickets can impact your car insurance may help you ease up on the gas pedal and keep more money in your wallet.

How much does insurance go up after a speeding ticket in Georgia?

On average, auto insurance premiums in Georgia jump by 26 percent after a speeding ticket conviction. This means drivers need to find an extra $63 in their budget each month to put toward car insurance. The silver lining is that you won’t see the rate increase happen right away. But once your policy is up for renewal, insurance companies typically re-check your motor vehicle report and may surcharge your policy (tack on a financial penalty) for violations.

While your driving history is a major rating factor, it is just one of many that determine your premium. Other factors such as age, location and prior driving activity also play a part and can alter how significantly the speeding ticket affects your policy.

How speeding tickets impacted insurance for real drivers in Georgia

*The quotes and citations included on this page have been verified by our editorial team and are accurate as of the posting date. Outlinked content may contain views and opinions that do not reflect the views and opinions of Bankrate.

How long does a speeding ticket stay on insurance in Georgia?

In Georgia, a speeding ticket will generally stay on your driving record for two years. Speeding tickets below 15 mph over the posted speed limit technically don’t add points to your driving record. However, driver’s license points and surcharge points are different. While the driver’s license points will fall off after two years, the violation will remain on your driving record. Typically, the surcharge points assigned by your insurance company will impact your rates for at least three years.

The impact of the speeding ticket will decrease over time, with rates being the highest in the first year. But keep in mind that during that time, your base rate will still fluctuate. It isn’t likely that your premium will be exactly what it was three years ago once the surcharge points fall off. Comparison shopping for car insurance can help you find lower rates — even with a speeding ticket on your record.

How to avoid an insurance increase after a speeding ticket in Georgia

If your car insurance company can see the speeding ticket on your motor vehicle report, the odds are they will surcharge your policy. However, even with a speeding ticket, there are still ways to save money on your insurance.

Try to keep the speeding ticket off your driving record

Finding a way to remove the ticket from your driving record is the best-case scenario. This is true for all drivers but especially for first-time offenders and for drivers at risk of license suspension due to other violations.

• Plead nolo contendere: Georgia law allows drivers who receive a moving violation to plead no contest (nolo contendere) once every five years. If granted, this will ensure that no points will be applied to your driving record. Subsequent pleas of no contest within the five-year period can help reduce the number of points on your driver’s license but will not remove the ticket from your driving history.
• Fight the ticket: If you feel that the ticket was issued in error or there were extenuating circumstances, you can plead not guilty and request a hearing.
• Complete a points reduction class: Taking a state-approved defensive driving class may sway the judge to remove the ticket from your record, but it’s not guaranteed. However, it could reduce your driver’s license points, which might help you avoid license suspension.

Shop around for competitive rates after a ticket

While a speeding ticket can increase your rate with almost any carrier, not all insurance companies view the risk of speeding the same. If you are with a carrier with a diverse risk pool, your premium increase may be less than if you are with a company that favors drivers with a clean record.

The difference between carrier rating structures is why shopping around with at least three different companies is so important. Georgia drivers with one speeding ticket could save as much as $1,900 per year by switching to a different insurance company. Going through the process of getting car insurance quotes isn’t always fun, but it is usually worth it.

Drive defensively to avoid future speeding tickets

The best way to avoid a speeding ticket rate hike is by not speeding. But maintaining a clean driving record isn’t always possible, and even the most cautious driver can slip up. Over time, the rate increase related to the speeding ticket will fade. By avoiding additional moving violations, you can usually earn back safe driving and incident-free discounts within five years.

In Georgia, drivers 25 and older are eligible for a premium reduction after completing an approved defensive driving course. However, you need to be accident- and violation-free for at least three years. Enrolling in a telematics insurance plan may help you save money, and most telematics apps provide tips to improve your driving habits.

Further, if your vehicle is equipped, drivers with intelligent speed assistance should make sure their system is activated to help reduce the chance of another speeding ticket.

Frequently asked questions

• What is the best car insurance company for drivers with a speeding ticket?
  

  The best car insurance company is based on your unique needs as a driver, including whether you have a speeding ticket on your record and are concerned about your car insurance premium increasing. When calculating premiums, insurers consider several factors individual to you like the coverage options you select and your vehicle’s age, make, model, annual mileage and more. Comparing quotes from several providers is the most effective way to find the ideal company for you.

• Is it hard to find insurance with a speeding ticket in Georgia?
  

  It shouldn’t be hard to find insurance with a speeding ticket in Georgia, but you can almost certainly expect to pay more than you did when you had a clean driving record. However, your options may be limited to high-risk insurance providers if your speeding was severely over the posted limit or if you have multiple traffic violations on your record.

• Do I have to report speeding tickets to insurance?
  

  No. Unless you are asked about your driving record, you do not need to report speeding tickets to your insurance company. Carriers automatically run your motor vehicle report before your policy renewal and will update your rate at that time. Since there is a cost to pull the reports, your insurance company might not run it every six months; however, at least once a year is common. If you change insurance companies or update your policy and your agent asks about your driving activity, you must answer honestly though.

Methodology

Bankrate utilizes Quadrant Information Services to analyze April 2025 rates for all ZIP codes and carriers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Rates are weighted based on the population density in each geographic region. Quoted rates are based on a single, 40-year-old male and female driver with a clean driving record, good credit and the following full coverage limits:

• $100,000 bodily injury liability per person
• $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident
• $50,000 property damage liability per accident
• $100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person
• $300,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident
• $500 collision deductible
• $500 comprehensive deductible

To determine minimum coverage limits, Bankrate used minimum coverage that meets each state’s requirements. Our base profile drivers own a 2023 Toyota Camry, commute five days a week and drive 12,000 miles annually. Bundling and paperless billing discounts are applied.

These are sample rates and should only be used for comparative purposes. Your quotes will differ.

If otherwise specified, the base profile has been modified with the following driver characteristics:

• Credit-based insurance scores:
  

  Rates were calculated based on the following insurance credit tiers assigned to our drivers: “poor, average, good (base) and excellent.” Insurance credit tiers factor in your official credit scores but are not dependent on that variable alone. Four states prohibit or limit the use of credit as a rating factor in determining auto insurance rates: California, Hawaii, Massachusetts and Michigan.

• Incidents:
  

  Rates were calculated by evaluating our base profile with the following incidents applied: clean record (base), at-fault accident, single speeding ticket, single DUI conviction and lapse in coverage.

• Mileage:
  

  Rates were calculated by evaluating our base profile with the following differences in mileage: 2K, 5K, 12K (base), 15K and 20K.

• Model:
  

  Unless otherwise stated, rates are for 2023 vehicle models. For new vs used vehicles, we included the following year in our calculations: 2013.

• Age:
  

  Rates were calculated by evaluating our base profile with the ages 18-70 (base: 40 years) applied. Depending on age, drivers may be a renter or homeowner. Age is not a contributing rating factor in Hawaii and Massachusetts due to state regulations. For teen drivers, rates were determined by adding a 16- or 17-year-old teen to their 40-year-old married parents’ policy. The rates displayed reflect the total cost of a driver this age added to their parents’ policy.

• Gender:
  

  The following states do not use gender as a determining factor in calculating premiums: California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania.

• Status:
  

  Rates were evaluated based on the following marital/family status: single (base), married, 40-year-old married man and woman. Marital status is not a rating factor in Hawaii and Massachusetts.